A lonely little Petunia becomes more beautiful as time passes.
So, we move into August, half a year since Covid-19 grabbed the world and flipped
it off it's axis. I sure thought that I would have taken down my "decorative thank-you
to essential workers" globe that hangs at our driveway's entrance by now. I also
hoped that we would have a pair of tickets for Australia to spend Christmas and a
couple of our winter months with the family.
We are lucky here in Bayfield to be in Stage 3 where businesses, shops and restaurants
are open with caveats in place. Customers and employees must all wear masks and
many places have security to ensure that happens. Social distancing is in place, hand
washing stations and sanitizer is everywhere and all venues limit customers.
Many towns have adapted parking spots to create patios for restaurants. Chris and I
had a fun lunch on The Albion's patio in Bayfield recently. We also sat on the patio
for lunch at the Beach Street Station overlooking Lake Huron in Goderich.
People flocked to the beautiful Sunflower Field in Bayfield for photos and flowers by
donation. The field of sunshine was a bittersweet tribute to a local family whose two
year old son Max died of Leukemia this winter.
I have been enjoying outdoor yoga where a couple of volunteers mark our spots
with small flags so participants lay their mats at a safe distance from each other.
Our Yogi Jennifer is fabulous and provides an inspirational "stretchy" hour for us
twice a week in Pioneer Park overlooking Lake Huron. Namaste!
Friend/neighbour Linda at Yoga, Pioneer Park, Bayfield.
The view from my yoga mat in Shavasana pose.
Bayfield is famous for its sunsets and Chris and I enjoyed one recently nibbling
ice cream cones and watching folks set up cameras and focus their binoculars.
We were there to see "Comet Neowise". It took a long time for true darkness to
fall so that the stars were visible. We were able to view the comet as a blurry
fuzz-ball and the Mosquitoes were busy feasting on us and everyone else in Pioneer
Park. We decided to drive up to the cornfields on Bayfield River Road where we
were rewarded with a much clearer view of the comet with her long, peacock tail.
It is amusing to hear friends gleefully announce that they had a haircut or visited
the dentist or hiked in a public park or that their favourite dry-goods are back in
the stores. I am reminded daily of things to be thankful for that we often take for
granted.
Fresh Cherry pie baked by chef Wendy and shared during a blackout; thankful!
Most people know me as a very patient person however my nemesis happens to be
"The Lineup". Right Wend? Oh how we can learn new tricks! The early bird no
longer seeks a worm but entrance to the grocery store without lining up.
Whining in line while I wait to buy wine!
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Many of my friends with health issues or compromised immune systems seem
slightly less stressed. As we know, stress only triggers more symptoms and
suffering. Individuals cope in their own ways. I think for me the strangest thing is
the concept of time and planning for the future.
People are waiting all over the world for various things: medical appointments
and surgery; return to work or school; delivery of an important package; safe local
and world travel; solving dept issues; reuniting with loved ones; spontaneity; for
theatres, concert venues, galleries and museums to open; community parks to open;
competitive sports to return; to leave the masks behind; socializing without rules;
finding a cure or vaccination and to watch the collective fear dissipate.
For me, the paradox of these times is how quickly the hours and days pass, but with
the brakes on and locked.
July has been steamy with drought-like conditions. The farmers' fields of soya beans
and corn have really suffered. The corn growth was accelerated in June's high
temperatures but then stood still for weeks unchanged. Tassles did not form or
appeared very late and ears were tiny or nonexistent. I was introduced to the term
"Spiking Corn" observing the leaves curled inward to conserve moisture and looking
more like cacti than corn. Some areas of Southern Ontario have benefited from a few
rainfalls whereas adequate moisture here has been very scarce.
The large storm that brought tornadoes to a few places pulled down many beautiful
old trees and knocked out power in the region. For all its pomp and circumstance, it
brought very little productive rain. Luckily, a couple of long gentle rains have come
by over the past week, hopefully not too late for the farmers and their crops to
recover.
"Hot enough for ya?"